Caged mercaptan and seleno-mercaptan compounds and methods of using them

ABSTRACT

Novel mercaptan compounds, particularly those including a photolabile protecting group, are described as well as methods of using the compounds for the prevention and treatment of ocular damage and disease.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/033,870 filed Mar. 5, 2008, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/060,487 filed Jun. 11, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/077,186 filed Jul. 1, 2008. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/946,659 filed Nov. 28, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/861,262 filed Nov. 28, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/907,734 filed Apr. 16, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/924,686 filed May 29, 2007. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/946,659 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/135,271 filed May 24, 2007 (which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/574,211 filed May 26, 2004), U.S. Patent Application 11/010,436 filed Dec. 14, 2004, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/969,868 filed Oct. 22, 2004, each of which is a continuation or continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/050,879 filed Jan. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,955, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/262,423 filed Jan. 19, 2001, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/930,287 filed Aug. 16, 2001, now abandoned, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/225,659 filed Aug. 16, 2000. Each of these is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As we age, our lenses undergo physiological changes that make it more difficult to focus on near objects. That is why nearly everyone requires reading glasses, even as early as age 35-40. The ability of the eye to change focal power, also known as accommodative amplitude, decreases significantly with age. The accommodative amplitude is 20 diopters in children and young adults, but it decreases to 10 diopters by age 25 and to <1 diopter by age 60. The age-related inability to focus on near objects is called presbyopia. All of us will develop presbyopia and will use corrective lenses unless a new treatment is found.

In a healthy eye, the ciliary muscle can deform the lens via the suspensory ligaments to change the focal power of the eye. The lens takes on a different shape when the ciliary muscle is relaxed for near vision (FIG. 2A) than when the ciliary muscle is contracted for far vision (FIG. 2B). When the ciliary muscle is relaxed, the central thickness is larger, and the equatorial circumference is smaller. Also, the lens nucleus is more posterior than central, and the space between iris and lens is larger. These changes involve the fibers of the lens cortex (C) because even by young adulthood, the lens nucleus (N) is incompressible.

The ciliary muscle, the suspensory ligaments, the posterior chamber of the aqueous humor, and the lens all must be considered when defining the etiology of presbyopia. Presbyopia may be caused, in part, by lens growth, oxidative stress, and disulfide bond formation.

The lens is a unique stratified epithelium where new fiber cells are laid down in shells throughout life. But the older fibers are not sloughed, so cross-sectional area, equatorial circumference, total volume, and weight increase all with age. The anterior part of each fiber cell must differ from that of the posterior because the anterior cortex is thicker than the posterior. Furthermore, elasticity decreases in the anterior cortex with age. Because of the change in lens size, the amount of force required to change its shape increases. The circumlental space decreases causing the posterior aqueous volume to decrease. This phenomenon is more pronounced in the temporal quadrant. There are also aging changes in the ciliary muscle and suspensory ligaments that contribute to the loss of lens deformability.

Although growth is a major contributor to the decreased deformability in the presbyopic lens, small changes in fiber membrane and/or cytoskeleton structure also play a role. Lens fiber plasma membranes are relatively stable and immobile due to the high levels of sphingomyelin and cholesterol that ranges from 50 percent in the cortex to 90 percent in the nucleus. While targeting lens membrane lipids may improve deformability, it may increase the risk for cataract because cataract is associated with decreased cholesterol.

The cytoskeleton is equally critical for fiber stability and elasticity. The lens fiber has actin microfilaments, a unique beaded intermediate filament, and microtubules, all of which are associated with the inner leaflet of the fiber plasma membrane. Disulfide bonds in intrinsic membranes and in membrane associated proteins increase with age in the non-cataractous human lens and in rodent lenses. Glutathione, believed to be the lens' major defense against oxidation, decreases with age and with distance from the lens surface. In other systems, glutathionylation of actin causes actin-microfilament depolymerization. Actin microfilaments are the most elastic of the cytoskeletal components.

Such disulfide bonds can also induce cataract. Oxidative stress can oxidize lens proteins, which destroys the balanced redox state required to maintain transparency. Thiolation of lens protein changes the tertiary structure of the protein, and more functional groups are exposed for further modification. The first line of defense, endogenously high levels of glutathione, fends off reactive oxygen species and keep lens proteins in a reduced state. As a second line of defense, intrinsic repair enzymes dethiolate the protein-thiol mixed disulfides or protein-protein disulfides induced by oxidative stress, thus keeping lens proteins thiols free and restoring lens proteins-enzyme function and activity.

With age, these protection and repair mechanisms against oxidative stress slowly deteriorate and become ineffective, resulting in a lens less able to counteract the effects of reactive oxygen species and other oxidants. Sulfhydrals are among groups most susceptible to oxidation. Sulfhydral groups may then undergo oxidation creating intra- and inter-molecular cross-links which increases with age in normal human lenses. These disulfide cross-links are present in water insoluble protein fractions. High molecular weight aggregates containing proteins and membrane particles with sizes over 5×10⁷ Da will scatter light. When a sufficient number of high molecular weight protein aggregates of this size or greater occur, transparency is lost and cataract occurs. Thus disulfide bond formation may be a cause of both presbyopia and cataract.

There is a need for compounds and methods for combating presbyopia and/or cataract. The compounds and methods described herein can be prophylactic and/or therapeutic for presbyopia and cataract by preventing or reducing disulfide bond formation in lens membranes and membrane associated proteins. The compounds may also affect one or more of lens growth, lens cystine and lipoic acid concentrations, cellular and lens fiber redox state, cellular elasticity, and lens transparency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a compound is provided that comprises an active agent X removably linked to at least one cage. The active agent can be lipoic acid or a derivative thereof. Specific exemplary active agents include 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid; dihydrolipoate; 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid); 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid; 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid; and salts and esters thereof.

The at least one cage can be, for example, a coumarin cage. In one embodiment, the cage is a 7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl group or a 6-bromo-7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl group. The at least one cage can be removably linked to at least one of a carboxylate group, an amino group (e.g., via —CO₂), or a sulfur atom of the active agent.

In another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition for ocular use comprises a compound as described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition for ocular use comprises cystine or seleno-cystine, or a salt or ester thereof, optionally caged by a photolabile protecting group, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions can include, e.g., an emulsifier and a buffered carrier.

In another embodiment, a method comprises providing or administering a caged compound and uncaging the active agent, e.g., by applying light. A chemical energy source such as glucose of NADPH can optionally be additionally provided with the caged compound.

In one embodiment, the light is UVA light and has a wavelength of about 350 to 380 nm. The light can be applied to a localized region if desired.

The method can include administration to cells in vitro or in vivo and in either case, ocular cells. The compound can be administered via a topical ocular, subtenons, subconjunctival, intracameral, intravitreal, or iontophoresis route.

The method can be used to increase or maintain accommodative amplitude, as measured in diopters, to at least 2% greater than the accommodative amplitude expected in an untreated lens of about the same age. The method can increases accommodative amplitude by at least 0.25 diopters. The method can be used to increase or maintain lens elasticity, as measured in diopters or by elasticity E, to at least 2% greater than the elasticity expected in an untreated lens of about the same age. The method can be used to decrease or maintain lens opacity to at least 2% less than the opacity expected in an untreated lens of about the same age.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a pictorial step-wise depiction of an exemplary method as described herein. Step 1 represents delivery of a caged reducing agent by drops to the cornea. Step 2 represents allowing time to the agent to accumulate in the eye. Step 3 represents uncaging the agent at specific site(s) in the lens. Step 4 represents the agent reducing disulfide bonds in the specified site(s) in the lens. Step 5 represents allowing time for the remaining caged compound to disappear. Step 6 represents a softer lens that is better able to accommodate after site selective reduction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the changes in lens shape when the ciliary muscle is relaxed for near vision (FIG. 2A) and contracted for far vision (FIG. 2B).

FIG. 3 depicts the cellular transport mechanism of cystine (CSSC) and lipoate into lens epithelial cells and fibers using intracellular glutamate and the sodium gradient.

FIG. 4 depicts the glutathione concentration (FIG. 4A) and cystine concentration (FIG. 4B) in the eye.

FIG. 5 shows the products of photolysis for caged cystine (FIG. 5A) and caged lipoic acid (FIG. 5B). R₁ is either H or Br.

FIG. 6 depicts the accommodative amplitude in diopters (D) of an untreated human lens as a function of age in years. Borja, D et al. 2008. Optical Power of the Isolated Human Crystalline Lens. Invest Opthalmol V is Sci 49(6):2541-8. Borja et al. calculated the maximum possible accommodative amplitude of each measured lens power data point (n=65). As shown, there is good agreement between the age-dependent loss of accommodation and the maximum amplitude of accommodation calculated from the isolated lens power.

FIG. 7 shows a trend graph of the shear modulus versus position in the lens and age. Weeber, H A et al. 2007. Stiffness gradient in the crystalline lens. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Opthalmol 245(9): 1357-66. The line at the bottom is the 20-year-old lens; the line at the top is the 70-year-old lens. The modulus increases with age for all positions in the lens. Measurements were taken up to 4.0 mm from the lens centre. The lines are extrapolated to a radius of 4.5 mm (lens diameter 9.0 mm).

FIG. 8 depicts the average opacity (opacimetry) of an untreated human lens as a function of age in years. Bonomi, L et al. 1990. Evaluation of the 701 interzeag lens opacity meter. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Opthalmol 228(5):447-9. Lens opacity was measured in 73 healthy subjects between 10 and 76 years of age without slit-lamp evidence of cataract and with a visual acuity of 20/20. These subjects were classified into ten age groups. This study was carried out using the Interzeag Opacity Meter according to the procedure described by Flammer and Bebies (Flammer J, Bebie H.1987. Lens Opacity Meter: a new instrument to quantify lens opacity. Opthalmologica 195(2):69-72) and following the suggestions of the operating manual for the instrument.

FIG. 9 plots wavelength versus intensity (maximal absorption at 470 nm) for the two-photon uncaging of an exemplary compound.

FIG. 10 plots time versus intensity and describes the uncaging linear rate constant for the two-photon uncaging of an exemplary compound.

FIG. 11 depicts a scatter plot of the change in ΔD (micrometers) in the absence (control) and presence of lipoic acid in lens organ culture experiments. The symbol ‡ designates significantly larger changes in ΔD when compared to controls. Statistical values are highly significant at p<0.00001 by unpaired t-test and by Kiruskal Wallis test, which compared medians of each data set. The relative change in Young's modulus (E) can be calculated as the cubic value derived from the ΔD of the control divided by the ΔD of the experimental or E fractional change=(ΔD con/ΔD exp)^3.

FIG. 12 depicts a scattergram of the percent of the total protein SH groups in disulfide bonds. Free SH groups were alkylated with 4-acetamido-4′-maleimidylstilbene-2,2′-sulfonic acid (c, 1 μM, 5 μM, 9.6 μM, 50 μM, 96 μM) or 7-diethylamino-3-(4′maleimidylphenyl)-4-methyl coumarin (500 μM, and 500 μM c). Following removal of the first alkylating agent, the S—S bonds were reduced and alkylated with fluorescein-5-maleimide. Absorption spectra were used to calculated total protein (A280 nm), free protein SH (A322 or A384), and protein SS (A490) using the appropriate extinction coefficients. The symbol ‡ indicates statistically significant difference of mean with mean of control (c, p<0.05). The symbol ** indicates means of 500 μM lipoic acid and the 500 μM control were significantly different from each other (p=0.027).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Compounds and methods are provided that can affect one or more of: disulfide bond formation in lens membranes and membrane associated proteins, lens growth, lens cystine and lipoic acid concentrations, cellular and lens fiber redox state, cellular elasticity, and lens transparency. These compounds and methods may thus effectively prevent or treat presbyopia and/or cataract.

In one embodiment, we provide a compound comprising an active agent X removably linked to at least one cage.

The active agent X is any agent capable of inducing a therapeutic effect as described above. Exemplary reducing agents include, but are not limited to, lipoic acid, cystine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, Vitamin E, tetraethylthiuram disulfyl, ophthalmic acid, inositol, beta-carbolines, reducing thiol derivatives, reducing sulfur derivatives, thiodisulfide exchange reaction agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT), trialkylphosphine, and tris[2-carboxyethyl]phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP.HCl), thioredoxin, and bis(mercaptoacetyl)hydrazine derivatives, as well as variations thereof. See, e.g., co-pending US 2008/0139990; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,688,828 and 5,686,450. Preferably, the active agent is a reducing agent that is capable of reducing disulfide bonds, particularly disulfide bond formation in lens membranes and membrane associated proteins. Accordingly, particularly preferred active agents are capable of entering into the lens epithelial cells.

In one embodiment, the compound enters the lens epithelial cells using a naturally occurring transport mechanism. For example, lipoic acid and cystine enter lens cells via specific plasma membrane symporters and antiporters. The lens epithelium and fibers have transporters for lipoic acid and cystine that depend upon the sodium gradient for uptake into cells, where the agents are reduced to dihydrolipoic acid and cysteine, respectively (FIG. 3). By using lipoic acid- or cystine-based compounds, one can utilize a naturally occurring transport mechanism to deliver the agents to the lens cells.

The transport mechanism operates as follows: In the lens, there are three Na,K-ATPase isozymes that use the energy of ATP hydrolysis for the electrogenic exchange of three intracellular sodium ions (Na⁺) for two extracellular potassium ions (K⁺). The result is a gradient for Na⁺ where [Na⁺]_(intracellular)<[Na⁺]_(extracellular) and a gradient for K⁺ where [K⁺]_(intracellular)>[K⁺]_(extracellular). The α2β2 isozyme of Na,K-ATPase maintains the sodium gradient in lens fibers. The α1β1 and α3β2 Na,K-ATPase isozymes maintain the sodium gradient in the lens epithelium.

Excitatory amino acid transporters EAAT1-EAAT5 are responsible for uptake of glutamate in the lens. EAATs are high affinity sodium-dependent glutamate (GLU, FIG. 3) symporters whose efficiency is regulated by the sodium gradient's steepness, i.e., the steeper the Na⁺ gradient, the faster the uptake of extracellular glutamic acid. EAATs are highest in lens epithelium and cortical fibers and lowest, almost non-existent, in nuclear fibers.

The glutamate gradient created by the EAATs ([GLU]_(intracellular)>[GLU]_(extracellular)) is used for the exchange of extracellular cystine (CSSC, FIG. 3) via the glutamate-cystine antiporter (xCT). xCT is cytoplasmic in superficial lens cortical fibers and an integral membrane protein in lens nuclear fibers. This glutamate-cystine exchange is critical for the lens cell's oxidative status as demonstrated by mice deficient in xCT, which display redox imbalances. xCT requires the anionic deprotonated carboxyl groups of cystine for exchange.

The sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (symporter), SC5A6 (SMVT), is responsible for lipoate influx into cells. Like the EAATs, SC5A6 is regulated by the steepness of the Na⁺ gradient. Again, the carboxylate anion is required for transport. Lens cortical fibers are one target for the lipoic acid-based compounds described herein because these cells express SC5A6 and its mRNA is found there.

In one embodiment, the active agent is lipoic acid, especially alpha-lipoic acid, or a derivative thereof. Lipoic acid-based active agents include, but are not limited to, 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid (lipoic acid); 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid (dihydrolipoic acid); and dihydrolipoate. Lipoic acid not only advantageously utilizes a naturally occurring transport mechanism, but may also be effective to combat prevent and/or treat a wide variety of cell damage and/or disorder types.

Lipoic acid functions as an acyl group transferring factor in aerobic metabolism shuttling acyl groups between thiamine pyrophosphate (ThPP) and Coenzyme A (CoA). In the mitochondria, lipoic acid acts as a co-factor in the glycine cleavage, forming 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, branched chain oxoacid dehydrogenase and acetoin complexes. Lipoic acid is synthesized in the mitochondria. Lipoic acid levels are adequate in differentiating fibers containing mitochondria (superficial cortex), but fall precipitously in fibers of the deeper cortex where cellular organelles have been lost.

Exogenous lipoic acid, with a redox potential of −0.29V, acts as an antioxidant. In lenses treated with lipoic acid, the lens fibers in the process of losing mitochondria and those fibers devoid of mitochondria can benefit from the antioxidant properties of the agent.

Lipoic acid may also prevent symptoms associated with vitamin E deficiency, reverse H₂O₂-dependent inhibition of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and prevents reserpine-induced oxidative stress in the striatum, hyperglycemia-induced SH-group oxidation in erythrocyte membranes, and buthionine sulfoximine-induced cataract formation. Lipoic acid may also reverse or prevent age dependent memory loss and improve hemodynamic properties following ischemia-reperfusion in heart without improvement of cardiac electrophysiological properties. Lipoic acid changes cellular redox status, thus stimulating glucose uptake in adipocytes and skeletal muscle presumably by increasing plasma membrane levels of GLUT4. Finally, lipoic acid ameliorates insulin resistance in the Goto-Kakizaki rat model of type II diabetes.

In another embodiment, the active agent is cystine or a derivative thereof. Cystine-based active agents include, but are not limited to, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid) (cystine) and 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid (cysteine). Like lipoic acid, cystine not only advantageously utilizes a naturally occurring transport mechanism, but may also be effective to combat prevent and/or treat a wide variety of cell damage and/or disorder types.

The cysteine/cystine redox couple (CSH/CSSC) plays multiple roles in oxidative stress response as well as acts as a source of cysteine for the synthesis of glutathione GSH. GSH is the electron-donating compound of the GSH/GSSG redox couple. In plasma, the redox state of the CSH/CSSC and GSH/GSSG couples vary diurnally. The redox states of these two couples do not vary concomitantly, i.e., each couple has a unique maximum and nadir. The intracellular redox potentials of GSH:GSSG and CSH:CSSC regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death. Total glutathione concentration (GSH+GSSG) is highest in the epithelium and superficial cortex as depicted by the darker area in FIG. 4A. Total Cys concentration (CSH+CSSC), on the other hand, is higher in the superficial cortex and lens nucleus than in the deep cortex, i.e., a bimodal distribution, as shown by the darker area in FIG. 4B. GSH is senses and protects against oxidative stress in the lens epithelium and superficial fibers. However, the low levels of GSH deeper in the cortex suggest a role for the GSH/GSSG redox couple in the regulation of mitochondrial disappearance during fiber differentiation. In the lens nucleus, the CSH/CSSC couple is most likely involved in protection against oxidative stress. The fibers of the deep cortex appear to be deficient in both the glutathione and cysteine couple.

The agents disclosed herein can be used to selectively increase lens cystine levels in deep anterior cortex, thereby beneficially changing the redox potential of extracellular and intracellular space, altering disulfide levels, decreasing lens stiffness, decreasing the potential for, or existence of, high molecular weight protein aggregates, and/or reducing cataract formation. These beneficial effects can be demonstrated in lens epithelial cell and lens organ culture models.

In another embodiment, the active agents include seleno-substituted agents. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that including selenium in the active agent can improve redox potential compared to the same agent without selenium. The selenium derivative can thus take advantage of the intracellular redox potential of the lens.

Accordingly, the active agent can be a lipoic acid or cystine derivative including selenium. In one embodiment, the active agent is a seleno-lipoic acid-based agent such as 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid or 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid. In another embodiment, the active agent is a seleno-cystine-based agent such as 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid.

In one embodiment, the active agent is 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid; dihydrolipoate; 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid); 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid; or 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid.

In another embodiment, the active agent is 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid; dihydrolipoate; 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid); or 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid.

In one embodiment, the active agent is lipoic acid or a derivative thereof. For example, the active agent can be 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid; 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid; 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid; or dihydrolipoate. In another embodiment, the active agent is 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid or 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid. In yet another embodiment, the active agent is 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid.

In another embodiment, the active agent is cystine or a derivative thereof. For example, the active agent can be 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid); 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid; or 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid. In yet another embodiment, the active agent can be 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid) or 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid.

The active agent can also be in a salt or ester form.

The active agent can be administered as a racemate or as an enantiomer. Lipoic acid and its derivatives are preferably administered to include the R form; cystine and its derivatives are preferably administered to include the L form. Synthetic methods to yield a racemate may be less expensive than stereo-specific processes including isolation/purification steps. On the other hand, administering a single enantiomer can lower the therapeutically effective amount, thus decreasing toxicity effects of both the active agent and the accompanying cage.

The active agent is removably linked to at least one cage. The active agent may be linked to one, two, three, or more cages depending on the particular structure of the active agent and the cage(s).

A “cage” as used herein means a photolabile protecting group. The cage is linked to the active agent and is capable of being removed from the active agent by the application of light energy. Preferably, the cage is linked to the active agent in such a way as to render the agent biologically inactive. The agent can be activated by applying light to remove the cage. Because the cage is readily removed by light, one can control the time and/or place of the agent's activity. Exemplary cages and synthetic methods useful for the compounds herein include, but are not limited to those disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,541 and Kao, J P. 2006. Caged Molecules: Principles and Practical Considerations. Curr Protoc Neurosci. Ch. 6:Unit 6.20. Specific exemplary cages include, but are not limited to, (6-nitrocoumarin-7-yl)methyl; N-(o-nitromandelyl)oxycarbonyl; p-hydroxyphenacyl; 7-Nitroindolinyl; 4-methoxy-7-nitroindolinyl; γ-(α-carboxy-2-nitrobenzyl); 6-bromo-7-hydroxycoumarin; naphthalene groups, e.g., (6-hydroxy-3-oxo-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)methyl); quinoline-2-one; xanthene; thioxanthene; selenoxanthene; anthracene; and nitroso groups.

In one embodiment, the cage is a coumarin group. Coumarin cages can be advantageous in that they exhibit low toxicity. Also, the coumarin cages may be removed with light in the UVA range, as opposed to many other photolabile cages that can only be removed with UVB light. In particular embodiments, the cage has the formula:

wherein Y is —H, —Br, —OCH₃, —OCH₂CO₂H, —OCH₂CO₂CH₂CH₃, —NH₂, —SO₃H, or —CH₂CO₂H; and

Z is —H, —OH, —OCH₃, —O₂CCH₃, —O₂CCH₂CH₃, —CH₂CO₂H, —N(CH₃)₂, —N(CH₂CH₃)₂, —NH₂, or —SO₃H.

In a particular embodiment, the cage is a 7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl group (HC) or a 6-bromo-7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl group (BHC).

A cage can be attached to any charged or polar substituent of the agent. In one embodiment, a cage is attached to a carboxylate group, an amino group, or a sulfur atom of the active agent. When the cage is attached to an amino group of the active agent, it is preferably linked via a carboxylate group.

In one embodiment, the active agent is one of:

5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid (lipoic acid);

5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid;

5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid;

6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid (dihydrolipoic acid);

3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid) (cystine);

2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid (cysteine);

2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid;

and a cage is linked to a carboxylate group on the active agent. In this embodiment, the lipoic acid- and cystine-based compounds are inhibited from uptake into the cells while the carboxyl group is caged. Once uncaged, the ionized form of the carboxyl group facilitates transport across the lens cell membrane.

In another embodiment, the active agent is one of:

2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid,

2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid,

3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid),

and a cage is linked to an amino group of the active agent via —CO₂.

In another embodiment, the active agent is 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid or dihydrolipoate, and a cage is linked to a sulfur atom of the active agent.

Specific exemplary caged compounds include, but are not limited to:

As the compounds described herein may have therapeutic uses as described in further detail below, it is preferable to select an active agent/cage combination with low toxicity. Furthermore, because the compound will be present in both the caged and uncaged form, it is preferable to select a combination such that any of its three forms—the caged compound, the active agent alone, and the cage alone—all exhibit low toxicity. For example, the coumarin cages described above have already been demonstrated to exhibit acceptable toxicology thresholds. For the 7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl group (HC), the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) is 30 mM. In fact, the cage can be cytostatic at lower concentrations. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that coumarin cages may exhibit a cytostatic effect on lenses to reduce lens cell growth, reduce whole lens growth, and/or increase GSH/GSSG ratios. Thus, the cage component itself may contribute to improving accommodative amplitude and/or postponing the onset of presbyopia.

Other biologically acceptable components (including each of active agent, cage, and caged compound) can be selected by in vitro toxicology testing. See, e.g., Example 5.

The compounds described herein can be formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to provide pharmaceutical compositions. The pharmaceutical composition may also contain one or more excipients as is well known in the art of pharmaceutical formulary. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for ocular use. That is, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or other excipients are selected to be compatible with, and suitable for, ocular use. Such carriers and excipients are well known in the art. The excipients may also be selected and/or formulated to improve the solubility of the compound. For example, the pharmaceutical composition can include one or more of emulsifiers, buffers, salts, preservatives, lubricants, polymers, solvents, and other known excipients for ocular pharmaceutical formulations. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition includes an emulsifier and a buffered carrier such as Polysorbate 80 in HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution).

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition can comprise cystine or a derivative thereof, optionally caged by a photolabile protecting group, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition contains caged cystine or a derivative thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The compounds can also be administered with a chemical energy source, such as portion of glucose or NADPH, to facilitate reduction. The caged compound and chemical energy source can be co-formulated (e.g., prepared together in a single pharmaceutical formulation) or co-administered (administered simultaneously or consecutively in any order in individual formulations).

The compounds described herein can be employed in a method including the steps of: 1) providing a caged compound including an active agent removably linked to at least one cage, and 2) uncaging the active agent by applying light. The details of the caged compound are described above, while the details of light application are described below. Also, an exemplary uncaging method is provided below in Example 4.

The compounds described herein can be employed in a method for treating or preventing oxidation damage to cells. Such a method includes the steps of: 1) administering a caged compound including an active agent removably linked to at least one cage, and 2) uncaging the active agent by applying light.

The compounds can be administered to cells in vitro or in vivo. In one embodiment, the cells are in vivo. In either case, the cells can be ocular cells, e.g., lens cells. In one embodiment, the caged compound is administered to a lens, either in vitro or in vivo. Because oxidative damage has been implicated in other disorders including cancer, the caged compounds may prove useful for administration to any type of cell exhibiting or prone to oxidative damage.

The compounds can be administered to a lens by any route of administration including, but not limited to, topical, subtenons, subconjunctival, intracameral, intravitreal, or iontophoresis routes. In one embodiment, the compound can be delivered topically, e.g., via an eye drop, gel, ointment, or salve. In other embodiment, the compound can be delivered via an acute delivery system, e.g., using nanotubes, local injection, micro-injection, syringe or scleral deposition, or ultrasound.

The method can further include a step of waiting for accumulation, i.e., delaying activation of the compound for a period of time, called the “accumulation period,” to allow the compound to migrate to the desired location of activity and/or vacate undesired locations of activity. For ocular applications, for example, the method can include waiting for accumulation as the compound migrates through the corneal boundary and diffuses into the interstitial space throughout the lens tissue. The compounds preferably accumulate in the anterior chamber, aqueous humor, and lens. The accumulation period can be, e.g., about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60 minutes or more, or even a matter of days, such as about 1 to about 10 days depending on the method of administration. In another embodiment, the accumulation period is about 30 to about 60 minutes, about 10 to about 30 minutes, about 5 to about 15 minutes, about 1 to about 10 minutes, or about 1 to about 5 minutes.

Once the compound has accumulated at the desired location of activity, the compound is uncaged (activated) by applying light. Additionally or alternatively, the light can be applied to only a localized area of the target. In some embodiment, light is applied using an LED or laser source, which advantageously enables spatial specificity to deliver light to a localized region. Additionally or alternatively, other optical tools for creating and/or improving spatial specificity can be used with the methods described herein. The light can be targeted to particular areas, e.g., areas exhibiting inelasticity, opacity, and/or proliferation, while leaving other areas unaffected. In one embodiment, the compound and/or light can be localized to the anterior central portion of the lens or along the cylindrical optical axis.

Light application releases the active agent within the “activation volume” to change the flexibility of the lens so that the restoring force of the lens capsule is able to form the lens to a maximal spherical shape with increased curvature. The “activation volume” would be limited only by the available dilation of the patient papillary area although a smaller area may suffice to restore accommodative amplitude.

The light need not achieve 100% uncaging, but it should achieve a high enough degree of uncaging to achieve a therapeutic effect. Preferably, upon the application of light, at least about 50% of the caged compound portion administered is uncaged. More preferably, the caged compound becomes at least about 60, 70, 75, 80, 90, 95, 97, or 99 percent uncaged. Exemplary photolysis products are shown in FIG. 5.

The light should be strong enough to uncage the compound (that is, to remove the photolabile protecting group from the active agent), but mild enough to minimize collateral damage to surrounding cells and/or tissues. The light can be light of any wavelength including ultraviolet (less than about 400 nm), visible (about 380-750 nm), or infrared wavelengths (above about 750 nm).

In one embodiment, the compound can be uncaged using 1-photon or 2-photon photolysis. See, e.g., Example 4 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,541 Example 4. The photolabile 7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl- (HC) and 6-bromo-7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl (BHC) cages have large cross-sections for two-photon activation with a Ti:sapphire laser.

In another embodiment, the light is UVA light, e.g., a black light. The UVA light has a wavelength in the range of 315 to 400 nm, preferably about 325 to about 380 nm, about 330 to about 370, about 350 to about 375 nm, about 350 to about 380, or about 365 nm. In one embodiment, the UVA light has a wavelength of 365 nm±5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 nm. UVA light is particularly advantageous at least in part because the less damaging wavelengths decrease the likelihood of collateral tissue damage. Also, from a practical standpoint, UVA light is inexpensive, especially compared to laser 2-photon sources. With these advantages in mind, coumarin cages may prove especially useful in the compounds and methods herein because the coumarin cages can be removed using UVA light. Other cages, in contrast, often require UVB light for removal. Because UVB light uses more damaging wavelengths (e.g., 280-315 nm), UVB light may increase the likelihood of collateral, cytotoxic tissue damage.

The method can further include a step of waiting for clearance, i.e., waiting for the remaining caged compound and/or its components to disappear after activation. This “clearance period” can be, e.g., about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60 minutes or more, more preferably about 30 to about 60 minutes, about 10 to about 30 minutes, about 5 to about 15 minutes, about 1 to about 10 minutes, or about 1 to about 5 minutes.

The methods preferably utilize a therapeutically effective amount of the compound. The term “therapeutically effective amount” means an amount that is capable (in the active form) of preventing, reducing, reversing, and/or slowing the rate of oxidative damage. For ocular applications, a therapeutically effective amount may be determined by measuring clinical outcomes including, but not limited to, the elasticity, stiffness, viscosity, density, or opacity of a lens.

Lens elasticity decreases with age, and is a primary diagnostic and causative factor for presbyopia. Lens elasticity can be measured as accommodative amplitude in diopters (D). FIG. 6 depicts the average elasticity in diopters of an untreated human lens as a function of age in years. The lower the value of D, the less elastic the lens. In one embodiment, the compounds described herein (in the active form) can decrease and/or maintain D at a value that is greater than the D value exhibited by an untreated lens of about the same age. In other words, the compounds can keep accommodative amplitude “above the line” (the solid line mean accommodative amplitude) depicted in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, D is increased and/or maintained at a value about 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, 150, or 200 percent above the line. However, as individual lenses may differ with respect to average values, another embodiment provides any increase in accommodative amplitude, maintenance of accommodative amplitude, or reduction in the rate of decline of accommodative amplitude (i.e., reduction in the rate of decrease in diopters) for an individual lens compared to the accommodative amplitude of the same lens before treatment. Accordingly, in another embodiment, the methods provide an increase in accommodative amplitude of about 0.25 to about 8 diopters, or at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2, 2.5, 3, 5, or 8 diopters compared to the same lens before treatment.

Lens elasticity can also be measured by the unit of elasticity E. The higher the value of E, the less elastic the lens. FIG. 7 depicts the average elasticity (E) of an untreated human lens as a function of age in years. In one embodiment, the compounds described herein (in the active form) can decrease and/or maintain E at a value that is less than the E value exhibited by an untreated lens of about the same age. In other words, the compounds can keep lens elasticity “below the line” depicted in FIG. 7. In one embodiment, E is decreased and/or maintained at a value about 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, 150, or 200 percent below the line. However, as individual lenses may differ with respect to average values, another embodiment provides any increase inelasticity, maintenance of elasticity, or reduction in the rate of decline of elasticity (i.e., reduction in the rate of increase in E value) for an individual lens compared to the elasticity of the same lens before treatment.

Therapeutic efficacy can also be measured in terms of lens opacity. Lens opacity increases with age and is a primary diagnostic and causative factor for cataract. FIG. 8 depicts the average opacity of an untreated human lens as a function of age in years. In one embodiment, the compounds described herein (in the active form) can decrease and/or maintain opacity at a value that is less than the opacity value exhibited by an untreated lens of about the same age. In other words, the compounds can keep lens opacity “below the line” depicted in FIG. 8. In one embodiment, lens elasticity is decreased and/or maintained at a value about 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, 150, or 200 percent below the line. However, as individual lenses may differ with respect to average values, another embodiment provides any decrease, maintenance, or reduction in the rate of increase of opacity for an individual lens compared to the opacity of the same lens before treatment.

Therapeutic efficacy can also be measured as a reduction in the rate of cell proliferation, particularly lens epithelial cell proliferation. Thus, in some embodiments, therapeutic efficacy can be measured by cytostatic effect.

Some compounds described herein exist naturally in the untreated eye. Lipoic acid and cystine, for example, occur naturally in eye tissue. In general, a therapeutically effective amount of the exogenously administered compound is often at least about 1 or 2 orders of magnitude larger than the natural level of the compound. In one embodiment, the lipoic acid or derivative thereof is administered (e.g., in a caged form) in a dose amount of up to about 1 mM. In one embodiment, the dose amount of lipoic acid or a derivative thereof is about 1 μM up to 1 mM, preferably about 0.25 mM to about 0.75 mM, or about 0.5 mM. In another embodiment, the dose amount of lipoic acid or derivative thereof is no more than 0.5 mM, 250 μM, 100 μM, 50 μM, 20 μM, or 10 μM. In another embodiment, cystine or a derivative thereof is administered in a dose amount of about 1 μM to about 20 μM. In yet another embodiment, the dose amount of cystine or a derivative thereof is no more than 20 μM, the limit of cystine solubility in aqueous solution, or no more than 15 μM, 12 μM, 10 μM, 7 μM, or 5 μM. The dose amount will depend on the route of administration and the degree of uncaging as well as the age and condition of the patient. Similarly, the frequency of dosing will depend on similar factors as can be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Efficacy has been demonstrated in vitro for specific exemplary dosing. (See Example 6). FIG. 7 shows that the inelasticity increases by a factor of nearly 20 during the critical period from age 40 to 55 years. From current data, a 10 μM dose can decrease the inelasticity over 95% within a millimeter volume element (voxel). Extrapolation of these results to a volume element in the human lens suggests that using this treatment dose on a 55 year old person with a 10 kPA lens starting modulus value (see FIG. 7) could be reduced after treatment to a value of about 0.5 kPA (which then corresponds to a value typically seen with a 40 yr old person). FIG. 6 permits a conversion of these modulus values to optical amplitude: accommodative amplitude is normally reduced to almost 0 above 55 years, while a person at 40-45 years still exhibits around 4-5 diopters of accommodation.

The methods include preventative methods that can be performed on patients of any age. The methods also include therapeutic methods that can be performed on patients of any age, particularly patients that are 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 52, 55, 57, 60, 70, 75, or 80 years of age or older.

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of any measurable degree of precision. For example, if the value of a variable such as age, amount, time, percent increase/decrease and the like is 1 to 90, specifically from 20 to 80, and more specifically from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30.3 to 32, etc., are expressly enumerated in this specification. In other words, all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthesis of Cage: 4-Chloromethyl-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (1)

Ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate (10.0 mL, 73.0 mmol) was added dropwise to a cold (ice bath) solution of resorcinol (8.0 g, 73.0 mmol) in concentrated H₂SO₄ (100 mL). The cooling bath was removed, and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight (15 h), then poured onto ice (500 mL) and stirred until all ice had melted. The precipitate was collected by filtration and washed with water (200 mL). The solid was dissolved in hot EtOH:ligroin (4:1, 100 mL), filtered, and the filtrate was kept in the freezer (−20° C.) for 3 h. The solid was collected by filtration, washed with ligroin (3×10 mL), and dried to give 4-Chloromethyl-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (1) as a pale white solid (12.2 g, 79%).

Example 2 Synthesis of Exemplary Caged Compound: (R)-(+)-(7-Hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)methyl 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoate (2)

To a room temperature solution of (R)-(+)-1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid (2.66 g, 12.9 mmol) and 4-Chloromethyl-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (1) (2.40 g, 11.4 mmol) in anhydrous benzene (160 mL) was added 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (3.8 mL, 25 mmol) in one portion. The reaction mixture was heated to 80° C. (oil bath temperature) for 1 h, cooled to room temperature, then quenched with aqueous 15% citric acid (200 mL). The resulting suspension was filtered, and the collected insoluble material was suspended in acetone (100 mL), sonicated for 60 s, then filtered onto a bed of silica gel (˜10 g). The suspension-sonication-filtration step was repeated a second time. Concentration of the filtrate under reduced pressure followed by flash column chromatography (1% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) provided the desired product as a pale yellow powder (1.08 g, 25%).

Example 3 Synthesis of Exemplary Caged Compound: 3,3′-Disulfanediylbis(1-((7-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)methoxy)-1-oxopropan-2-aminium chloride (3)

A solution of 1 (4.00 g, 19.0 mmol), (Boc-Cys-OH)₂ (2.60 g, 5.90 mmol), KF (2.06 g, 35.40 mmol), and anhydrous DMF (20 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 3 days. The mixture was concentrated, and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (100 mL), washed with saturated aq. NaHCO₃ (50 mL), brine (50 mL), and dried over MgSO₄. The drying agent was removed by filtration, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. A suspension of the resulting orange solid (4.65 g, 5.90 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) and anhydrous 1,4-dioxane (40 mL) was treated with 4 M HCl in 1,4-dioxane (40 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16.5 h and concentrated under reduced pressure. Diethyl ether (200 mL) was added, and the resulting suspension was stirred for 30 min. The yellow solid was collected by filtration, washed with EtOAc and Et₂O, and dried in vacuo (3.21 g, 82% over 2 steps).

Example 4 Two-Photon Uncaging

60 μl of compound 1 was dissolved in 20:20 DMSO-methanol. Two-photon excitation from Ti-sapphire laser was used. Wavelength was set to 690 nm, and frequency doubler was used to get 345 excitation for uncaging compound 1. Lazing power was approximately 0.75 mwatts. See FIGS. 9 and 10.

Example 5 In Vitro Toxicology Studies

Cell viability was determined using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC, first passage). Cells were treated with the active agent, the caged active agent, and the photoproduct of the cage in doses ranging from 0.1 μM to 100 μM. The number of live and dead cells was determined using the MultiTox-Fluor assay (Promega) or Live/Dead® assay (Invitrogen). Logistic plots were used to determine each compound's LD₅₀ value. Lipoic acid was not cytotoxic in the concentration range. The cage photoproduct, 4-hydroxymethyl-7-hydroxycoumarin, had an LD₅₀ of 46 μM. The 7-hydroxymethyl-caged lipoic acid had an LD50 of 10.76 μM.

Example 6 In Vitro Efficacy Studies

Increase in Elasticity: Pairs of mouse lenses were incubated in medium 200 supplemented with an antibiotic, an antimycotic, in the presence or absence of lipoic acid (concentrations ranging from 0.5 μM to 500 μM) for 8-15 hours. Each lens was removed from medium, weighed, and photographed on a micrometer scale. A coverslip of known weight (0.17899±0.00200 g) was placed on the lens, and the lens was photographed again on the micrometer scale. The diameter of each lens with and without the coverslip was determined from the photographs. The change in lens diameter produced by the force (coverslip) was computed ΔD=(D_(withcoverslip)−D_(withoutcoverslip)). The results (FIG. 11, ‡) indicate that lipoic acid at concentrations ≧9.6 μM caused a statistically significant increase in ΔD, p<0.00001.

Decrease in disulfide bonds: Lipoic acid at concentrations ≧9.6 μM caused a statistically significant decrease in protein disulfides in the mouse lenses where there was a significant increase in ΔD (FIG. 11). Mouse lenses were homogenized in a denaturing buffer containing a fluorescent alkylating agent to modify the free SH groups. After removing the alkylating agent homogenates were reduced and alkylated with a different fluorescent alkylating agent. Absorption spectra of the modified proteins were used to calculate free protein SH and protein SS groups. The results are shown in FIG. 12.

Example 7 Preclinical and Clinical Studies

An exemplary clinical protocol may include patient selection criteria of age 45-55 years with some loss of clinical accommodative amplitude.

A test compound and/or placebo control may be administered in a controlled dark sterile environment with 1-photon visible light LED (computer controlled tilt mirror) system.

For acute treatment, the clinician could 1) apply a topical mydriatic agent, 2) wait for pupillary dilatation (about 5 minutes), 3) introduce a test compound and/or placebo control with an appropriate delivery device, 4) wait 30 minutes, 5) apply visible wavelength laser or UVA (˜365 nm) spatial (voxel) activation to release active agent from the caged compound in a target lens region (5 minutes), and 6) apply topical agent (e.g., cholecystokinin and vasopressin) to retract iris sphincter muscle to aid release of zonular tension during lens cytosol protein remolding.

Immediately following the procedure, the clinician may allow a time period for ocular drug clearance (e.g., about 30-60 minutes) and then allow patient to go home with laser glasses having a cutoff filter of about >550 nm.

For post-operative follow-up in about 1 day to 1 week, the clinician may evaluate the treatment modality for a desired visual endpoint, e.g., accommodative amplitude or elasticity.

The procedure can be repeated to gain further efficacy (e.g., to obtain 2 D in patients older than 55 years) and/or to restore near vision (depending on the duration of action).

A similar protocol could be adapted for preclinical testing animal in vivo lens models.

The examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible embodiments, applications, or modifications of the invention. Thus, various modifications and variations of the described methods and systems of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes of carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the chemical arts or in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

The disclosures of all references and publications cited above are expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties to the same extent as if each were incorporated by reference individually. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound comprising an active agent removably linked to at least one cage, wherein the active agent is a reducing agent.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is lipoic acid or a derivative thereof.
 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein at least one cage is a coumarin cage.
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least one cage is a coumarin cage.
 5. The compound of claim 4, wherein at least one cage has the formula:

wherein Y is —H, —Br, —OCH₃, —OCH₂CO₂H, —OCH₂CO₂CH₂CH₃, —NH₂, —SO₃H, or —CH₂CO₂H; and Z is —H, —OH, —OCH₃, —O₂CCH₃, —O₂CCH₂CH₃, —CH₂CO₂H, —N(CH₃)₂, —N(CH₂CH₃)₂, —NH₂, or —SO₃H.
 6. The compound of claim 5, wherein at least one cage is a 7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl-carboxyl group or a 6-bromo-7-hydroxy-coumarin-4-ylmethyl -carboxyl group.
 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least one cage is removably linked to at least one of a carboxylate group, an amino group, or a sulfur atom of the active agent.
 8. The compound of claim 1, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, dihydrolipoate, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, and salts and esters thereof.
 9. The compound of claim 8, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, and salts and esters thereof, and at least one cage is removably linked to a carboxylate of the active agent.
 10. The compound of claim 8, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), and salts and esters thereof, and at least one cage is removably linked to an amino group of the active agent via —CO₂.
 11. The compound of claim 8, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, dihydrolipoate, and salts and esters thereof, and at least one cage is removably linked to a sulfur atom of the active agent.
 12. The compound of claim 8, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, dihydrolipoate, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, and salts and esters thereof.
 13. The compound of claim 12, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, dihydrolipoate, and salts and esters thereof.
 14. The compound of claim 13, wherein the active agent is 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid or a salt or ester thereof.
 15. The compound of claim 14 having the formula:


16. The compound of claim 8, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, and salts and esters thereof.
 17. The compound of claim 16 having the formula:


18. A pharmaceutical composition for ocular use comprising: a compound comprising an active agent removably linked to at least one cage, wherein the active agent is a reducing agent; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, wherein the active agent is lipoic acid or a derivative thereof.
 20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, wherein at least one cage is a coumarin cage.
 21. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, dihydrolipoate, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, and salts and esters thereof; and at least one cage has the formula:

wherein Y is—H, —Br, —OCH₃, —OCH₂CO₂H, —OCH₂CO₂CH₂CH₃, —NH₂, —SO₃H, or —CH₂CO₂H; and Z is—H, —OH, —OCH₃, —O₂CCH₃, —O₂CCH₂CH₃, —CH₂CO₂H, —N(CH₃)₂, —N(CH₂CH₃)₂, —NH₂, or —SO₃H.
 22. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, comprising an emulsifier and a buffered carrier.
 23. A method of treating oxidation damage to cells comprising: administering a compound comprising an active agent removably linked to at least one cage, wherein the active agent is a reducing agent; and uncaging the active agent by applying light.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the active agent is lipoic acid or a derivative thereof.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one cage is a coumarin cage.
 26. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 23, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of: 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-5-yl)pentanoic acid, 5-(1,2-thiaselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, dihydrolipoate, 3,3′-disulanedylbis(2-aminopropanoic acid), 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroselenopropanoic acid, and salts and esters thereof; and at least one cage has the formula:

wherein Y is—H, —Br, —OCH₃, —OCH₂CO₂H, —OCH₂CO₂CH₂CH₃, —NH₂, —SO₃H, or —CH₂CO₂H; and Z is—H, —OH, —OCH₃, —O₂CCH₃, —O₂CCH₂CH₃, —CH₂CO₂H, —N(CH₃)₂, —N(CH₂CH₃)₂, —NH₂, or —SO₃H.
 27. The method of claim 23, further comprising administering a chemical energy source simultaneously or consecutively with the caged compound.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the chemical energy source is administered simultaneously with the caged compound.
 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the chemical energy source is glucose or NADPH.
 30. The method of claim 23, wherein the light has a wavelength of about 350 to 380 nm.
 31. The method of claim 23, wherein the light is applied to a localized region,
 32. The method of claim 23, wherein the cells are in vivo.
 33. The method of claim 23, wherein the compound is administered via a topical ocular, subtenons, subconjunctival, intracameral, intravitreal, or iontophoresis route.
 34. The method of claim 23, wherein the cells are ocular cells.
 35. The method of claim 23, wherein the method increases accommodative amplitude to, or maintains an accommodative amplitude of, at least 2% greater than the accommodative amplitude expected in an untreated lens of about the same age as measured in diopters.
 36. The method of claim 23, wherein the method increases accommodative amplitude by at least 0.25 diopters.
 37. The method of claim 23, wherein the method increases lens elasticity to, or maintains a lens elasticity of, at least 2% greater than the elasticity expected in an untreated lens of about the same age as measured by E.
 38. The method of claim 23, wherein the method decreases lens opacity to, or maintains lens opacity at, at least 2% less than the opacity expected in an untreated lens of about the same age. 